There they are, off on the right, in all their glory. Photo: Cameron Miller

At Alaska West our guides are constantly pushing the envelope as it relates to fly design. Big, beautiful composite hackle king flies, innovative new mouse designs, dangerously articulated flesh flies and more are routinely born in our staff quarters next to the Kanektok River.

On the other hand, there are some patterns that have produced for years, are simple to tie, and yes, might even be called ugly. The reigning king of this ‘old and ugly but effective’ category at Alaska West is, without a doubt, the Cotton Candy.

What We Know About the Cotton Candy

It consists of egg yarn, chenille, thread and a hook.

It probably represents some combination of eggs, flesh and milt, we think.

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Who We Are

Deneki Outdoors operates fishing lodges in Alaska, The Bahamas, British Columbia, and Chile.

Our blog gives anglers a daily dose of life on the water. We combine fishing reports, tips, gear reviews, information about our operations and special guest posts with pictures and stories, all related to our fisheries and beyond.